Report: Razorbacks near $100 million income

University of Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long speaks to reporters in Little Rock, Ark., Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010, about the increased donation to the Razorback Foundation, Inc. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)

FAYETTEVILLE  The University of Arkansas' athletic revenue in 2013 was more than $99.77 million, according to USA Today, more than doubling the program's reported revenue seven years earlier.

Arkansas ranked 14th nationally and sixth among Southeastern Conference schools in annual revenue, according the newspaper's database. The University of Texas led all schools with a revenue of more than $165.6 million last year.

Ticket sales of more than $39.4 million, multimedia rights and licensing fees of more than $36.4 million and financial donations totaling more than $19.4 million made up the majority of the Razorbacks' revenue last year.

Arkansas' revenue has increased sharply since 2006 when the program reported just more than $49.5 million in revenue. Higher football ticket prices, a multimedia rights agreement with IMG College and increased payouts from the SEC stemming from larger TV contracts have contributed most to the increase in revenue.

Rights and licensing fees are up by more than $21 million over 2006 at Arkansas, according to the database, while annual donations have increased by nearly $12 million and ticket sales by nearly $11 million over the same time frame.

The program's revenue is expected to rise again after the SEC Network launches later this year. The Baton Rouge, La., Advocate newspaper reported last month the network could be worth more than $30 million per year to each school.

As revenues have increased, so have Arkansas' annual expenses. USA Today reported the Razorbacks' expenses in 2013 were $92 million - nearly $10 million more than the year before and more than double the athletic department's expenses in 2005.

According to the newspaper, Arkansas paid its coaches and other athletic department staff nearly $34.9 million last year, spent more than $14.8 million on buildings and groundskeeping, and had scholarships totaling more than $8.4 million.

In addition, the Razorbacks' "other" expenses were more than $34 million. Those expenses included team travel, recruiting budgets and severance pay in addition to other financial obligations.

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Matt Jones

Matt Jones has been the online sports editor for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette since 2010. He is also a feature writer for Hawgs Illustrated magazine and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in documentary film.